Hollywood, California – For the first time, Frank Sinatra’s greatest recordings for Capitol Records and his own Reprise Records have been gathered for one stellar collection. Sinatra: Best of the Best will be released in single-disc and deluxe 2CD packages on November 1 (October 31 internationally), with insightful track notes written by Frank Sinatra, Jr. On the same date, both configurations will also be available for download purchase from all major digital service providers.

Best of the Best’s chronological tracklist leads with 1953’s “I’ve Got The World On A String,” followed by 12 other classic tracks Sinatra recorded for Capitol between 1953 and 1960, including “Young At Heart,” “You Make Me Feel So Young,” “All The Way,” and “Come Fly With Me,” as well as the Sinatra recording that is the theme of “Married With Children,” “Love And Marriage.” 10 of Sinatra’s best Reprise recordings, released between 1962 and 1980, are also featured, including “Night And Day,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words),” “Strangers In The Night,” “My Way,” and “Theme From New York, New York.” Best of the Best’s 2CD version adds a previously out-of-print and sought-after Seattle concert recording, and is packaged in a lift-top box with an expanded booklet and 6 postcards.

At Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra pioneered his landmark 'concept' albums. Working with arrangers such as Nelson Riddle, Billy May and Gordon Jenkins and singing the songs of Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, and Rodgers and Hart, to name a few, set Sinatra's recordings apart from those of all other vocalists of the 20th century and quite possibly all time.

In 1960, Frank Sinatra realized a dream when he founded Reprise Records. Sinatra was one of the first to recognize the value of artists owning their master recordings. The new label gave him the artistic and business freedom he longed for in his recording career.

At Reprise, Sinatra collaborated with new arrangers such as Johnny Mandel, Don Costa, and Quincy Jones, as well making albums with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

During his years of recording for Capitol and Reprise, Sinatra was also making concert appearances around the world and starring in hit movies, including From Here To Eternity, Pal Joey, High Society, and The Manchurian Candidate.

Sinatra loved and found comfort in recording music, once saying "I adore making records. I'd rather do that than almost anything else. You can never do anything in life quite on your own - you don't live on your own little island. Making a record is as near as you can get to it - although, of course, the arranger and the orchestra play an enormous part. But once you're on that record singing, it's you and you alone."

Tina Sinatra recalls the ambience that was present in the studio while her father recorded saying, “I remember his command, it was palpable, you could feel the energy in the room. It was like this vacuum of power, all eyes were always on him. It was very similar to seeing him on stage.”

Frank Sinatra, Jr. fondly remembers his father’s legendary sessions for Capitol and Reprise, saying “There was a tremendous level of excitement-air of expectation-every time he recorded. Everyone knew they were making the best records around. How could they miss? They had the best singer, best arrangers, best musicians, best engineers, and the best studios in town.”

Nancy Sinatra, Jr. recalls the excitement of her father’s recording sessions at Capitol, saying, “I came to sessions whenever I could. We would go to dinner at the Villa Capri and then we would drive to Capitol. Attending record sessions at Capitol was like going to a concert today-it was the hottest ticket that you could get your hands on; it was fantastic. It was great for him to have a small audience in the room and everything was live. The orchestra was in the room and everybody as a result of that did their best. There was magic in those studios and that building.”

Frank Sinatra is one of the world’s most recognizable, admired and influential artists of all time, with a vast catalogue of music that is a soundtrack for our lives. Long acclaimed as the world’s greatest performer of popular music, he is the artist who set the standard for all others to follow. More than a singer, he was an actor, recording artist, nightclub and concert star, radio and television personality and, on occasion, producer, director and conductor. Besides recording nearly 1,500 songs, he starred in some 60 motion pictures.

A beloved entertainer for six decades, Sinatra earned three Oscars, three Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award), ten personal Grammys (and a total of 20 for his albums), an Emmy, a Peabody and the Kennedy Center Honors Award. A generous charitable contributor, he was honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In addition, Sinatra was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor and the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian award.

Frank Sinatra has been called the most popular entertainer of the 20th century. His popularity and legions of fans around the world span all ages and demographic groups.

Count me in for the 2 CD set, I just hope they use Steve's mastering for disc 2 and not ruin it.

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I doubt they will change it one iota. When UMG/FSE issued Steve's mastering of THE SINATRA FAMILY WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS two years ago, they didn't change a thing. (Except to remove his credit from the cover and liner notes. )

I doubt they will change it one iota. When UMG/FSE issued Steve's mastering of THE SINATRA FAMILY WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS two years ago, they didn't change a thing. (Except his credit on the cover and liner notes. )

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I guessed & hoped that would be the case, afterall if you've got it mastered by the worlds finest mastering engineer why change it.

Let's hope this time they do the decent thing and give Steve the credit he deserves.

Finally I'll be able to get hands on an official release of this great show without going bankrupt.

Bob, regarding these Wally Heider recordings and baring in mind the family own the Seattle concert, who actually organised and paid for these shows to be recorded, was it Capitol or Frank himself if it was Capitol surely they'd own the masters rather than FSE.

Bob, regarding these Wally Heider recordings and baring in mind the family own the Seattle concert, who actually organised and paid for these shows to be recorded, was it Capitol or Frank himself if it was Capitol surely they'd own the masters rather than FSE.

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Frank paid for the recordings himself. Capitol was not involved. I don't have time right now, but I bet if you search for "Heider" you'll find some past discussion right here at SHF.

Note: One reason I'm sure the new reissue will use Steve Hoffman's mastering is that the track listing is identical to the DCC release, which was incomplete. There was actually an additional final song ("Night and Day") which appeared on unofficial releases prior to the DCC/Artanis version.

Frank paid for the recordings himself. Capitol was not involved. I don't have time right now, but I bet if you search for "Heider" you'll find some past discussion right here at SHF.

Note: One reason I'm sure the new reissue will use Steve Hoffman's mastering is that the track listing is identical to the DCC release, which was incomplete. There was actually an additional final song ("Night and Day") which appeared on unofficial releases prior to the DCC/Artanis version.

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Thanks Bob, I'll look around here for sure.

On the 2nd point, I'd rather have Steve's mastering with a missing song than a full CD all the songs with someone else doing an inferior job.

Note: One reason I'm sure the new reissue will use Steve Hoffman's mastering is that the track listing is identical to the DCC release, which was incomplete. There was actually an additional final song ("Night and Day") which appeared on unofficial releases prior to the DCC/Artanis version.